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Ortiz on shelf for 5-7 days

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
03/11/2013 06:37:50 AM EDT

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- David Ortiz will be shut down for several days of spring training because of sore left heel, and the Boston Red Sox are hoping the break from baseball activities won't prevent the slugging designated hitter from being ready for opening day.

Manager John Farrell made the announcement after Sunday's 6-2 exhibition victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. He expects Ortiz to be out for five to seven days because of inflammation revealed by MRI tests.

"It's separate from any kind of previous issues that he dealt with. It's in the bone-tendon juncture, where he's feeling the inflammation," Farrell said.

"As a result, we're going to shut him down for a few days here to let that quiet down completely before we initiate any kind baseball activities after that," he said.

The manager stopped short of calling it a setback for the eight-time All-Star, who is still making his way back from a strained right Achilles tendon that limited him to 90 games last season.

"Compared to where he was a year ago, we feel like there's progress being made. There's no question about that," Farrell said. "Yet he's dealing we an issue, and we've got to give it time to clear up."

David Ross hit a three-run homer off Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore, and John Lackey allowed two runs and four hits in 32/3 innings to pace Sunday's victory.

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